The Results of Using Interspecific Hybridization to Create Valuable Selection Forms of Patatoes

Abstract

In 2020–2022, an evaluation of newly developed interspecific potato hybrids was conducted on dark gray podzolic light loamy soils (Western Forest-Steppe region) based on their economic and biological characteristics. Sixteen hybrids from different maturity groups, created using the stepwise interspecific hybridization method, were studied. It was determined that careful selection of parental forms for crossbreeding and their rational combination in parental pairs allows for the combination of potentially high productivity (up to 1 kg/plant and higher), intensive yield formation with an increased starch content in tubers (15–17%), and enhanced resistance of above-ground biomass to late blight (at a level of 6–7 points on the international 9-point scale). Based on the conducted research on the comprehensive assessment of economic and biological characteristics of new interspecific potato hybrids, the following hybrids were identified and selected: mid-early hybrid 02/10-40 (Borodyanska Rozheva x Suzorye), mid-maturing 11/4-1 (Zakhidna x Vodohray), and late-maturing 16/17-1 [(Zakhidna x Sante) x (Volya x Lishchina)]. These hybrids significantly outperform the corresponding standard varieties in terms of a set of economically valuable traits. It is proposed to continue further breeding work with them according to the accepted potato breeding scheme, to intensively propagate them, and prepare them for submission to State Variety Testing as candidates for new varieties of this crop.